The RMT union has blamed rail companies and the government ahead of New Year's Eve strikes.

Rail strikes are planned for New Year's Eve

Credit:

PA

RMT members on South Western Railway, Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and Arriva Rail North are set to stage a 24-hour walkout on 31 January as part of a long running dispute over the role of the guard on trains.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, told Press Association: “It’s the continuing failure of the train companies and their political puppet masters in government to make any attempt whatsoever to resolve the range of separate disputes over rail safety that has led us to call this further action on South Western Railway”.